1999
(scroll down the page for production details)

AMERICAN PORTRAITS
THE CHERRY ORCHARD
InterACTivity '99
ELEEMOSYNARY
THE BALD SOPRANO
DOWN THE ROAD
THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT
HOW I GOT THAT STORY
EARLY ONE EVENING AT THE RAINBOW BAR AND GRILLE
ITALIAN AMERICAN RECONCILIATION
THE NORMAL HEART
BROADWAY BOUND
SOUND BITE
JENNY
CHILDREN OF SHAME
MANÈGE MOLIÈRE
THE FLYING DOCTOR
THE JEALOUS HUSBAND
SGANARELLE
THE MUSIC MAN


AMERICAN PORTRAITS
a new play
by Devon O'Brien
Adapted from the writings of Clyde Fitch
and the paintings of John Singer Sargent
(A Workshop Production)


Directed by Leszek Burzynski

 

January 27 - 30, 1999
4 Performances

THE CAST:

RICK, a guy
Drew Ebersole
MRS. ADAMS, mother to Amber
Nancy Boykin
AMBER
Bailey Drucker
CHELSEA, Amber's friend
Marisa Guterman
AMANDA
Megan Zakar
SIDNEY, friend to Amanda
Karen Wright
LUCILLE, friend to Sidney and Amanda
Sione Owen
AMY SOLOMON, wife of Robert Solomon
Leslie Hicks
PHILIP HATCH, tour guide
Fred Sanders
ROBERT SOLOMON
Robert Prescovitz
MR. CHARLES STUART FORBES
Don Mackay
MRS. HUGH HAMMERSLY
Susan Hull
MR. BENTON FOSDICK
Drew Ebersole
MR. WILLIAM PLANKTON
Don Fischer
MISS FLORENCE VICKERS
Karen Wright
MISS MABEL VICKERS
Megan Zakar
MISS CLARA VICKERS
Sione Owen
MR. THOMAS BOWLES, an Impressionist
François Giroday
MRS. TURNBULL, a widowed lady
Amanda Carlin
THE MAID
Christal Lockwood
MRS. VAN TINKLETON
Sione Owen
MRS. TINDLEY
Sharon Madden
JACK DUFFY DEARBORN III
James Calvert
ELEANOR JONES
Rachael Harris
MR. JOHN STUART KENNINGTON
Robert Prescovitz
MRS. JOHN STUART KENNINGTON
Leslie Hicks
MISS MARY LOUISA BOIT
Bailey Drucker
RACHEL
Marisa Guterman
MRS. EDWARD BOIT
Nancy Boykin
TOM
Don Mackay
MOLLY, wife of Paul
Susan Hull
PAUL
Don Fischer
MRS. FISK
Christal Lockwood
MRS. MOORE, a divorcée
Sharon Madden
 
Set Design
John Iacovelli
Lighting Design
J. Kent Inasy
Costume Design
Eve Brenner
Sound Consultant
Steven Hull
Casting
Carolyn Long & Concetta Di Matteo Casting
Publicist
Michael Patrick Public Relations
Assistant to the Producer
Marisol Novak
Box Office Manager
Harryette Feistman
Production Stage Manager
Nat Whitten

Produced by Nancy Boykin



THE CHERRY ORCHARD

by Anton Chekhov
World Premiere Translation by Allison Comins-Richmond


Directed by Joel Swetow

 

March 12 - May 16, 1999
40 Performances

THE CAST:

RANYEVSKAYA, LYUBOV ANDREEVNA
Michele Farr
ANYA
Marisol Novak
VARYA
Christal Lockwood
GAYEV, LEONID ANDREYICH
François Giroday
LOPAKHIN, YERMOLAI ALEXEYICH
Joel Anderson
TROFIMOV, PYOTR SERGEYICH
Jay Karnes
SIMEONOV-PISCHIK
James Harper
CHARLOTTA IVANOVNA
Marilyn McIntyre
SEMYON YEPIKHODOV
James Gleason
DUNYASHA
Sione Owen
FIRS
Neil Vipond
YASHA
James Calvert
TRAMP / POST OFFICIAL
Alan Naggar
STATIONMASTER
Robert Zeigler
PARTY GUEST / PEASANT
Victor Duran

Set Design

Bradley Kaye
Lighting Design
J. Kent Inasy
Costume Design
Shon LeBlanc
Sound Design
Ron Wyand
Composer
Gregg Coffin
Press Representation
Michael Patrick
Associate Producers
Michele Farr, James Harper,
Christal Lockwood
Box Office Managers
Harryette Feistman, Leon Russom
Assistant Stage Manager
Victor Duran
Production Stage Manager
Carol Doehring

Produced by Christina Carlisi

AWARDS:

L.A. Drama Critics Circle Awards:

Production - INTERACT / CHRISTINA CARLISI
Featured Performance -FRANÇOIS GIRODAY

Backstage West "Garland" Awards:

Translation - ALLISON COMINS-RICHMOND
Costume Design - SHON LeBLANC
Sound Design - RON WYAND

NOMINATIONS:

Theatre LA Ovation Award:

Translation - ALLISON COMINS-RICHMOND

L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award:

Lead Performance - MICHELE FARR
Featured Performance - NEIL VIPOND
Lighting Design - J. KENT INASY

L.A. Weekly Award:

Lead Performance - MICHELE FARR
Featured Male Performance - JAY KARNES
Featured Female Performance - MARILYN McINTYRE

Backstage West "Garland" Awards:

Direction - JOEL SWETOW
Ensemble Performance - INTERACT THEATRE COMPANY
Lead Performance - MICHELE FARR
Lighting Design - J. KENT INASY
Original Music - GREGG COFFIN



 
 
InterACTivity '99
Sixth Annual Festival


June 17 - July 18, 1999
13 separate programs
26 Performances


Staged readings & performances of various projects sponsored by the membership and from the Play Development Lab.
Over 75 actors and directors participated, and the works of 13 writers were represented.
 

project # 1:
ELEEMOSYNARY

by Lee Blessing
sponsored by Betty Vaughan
Directed by Carrie Freeman

Thursday, June 17 at 8:00 pm & Saturday, June 19 at 4:30 pm


THE CAST:
ECHO
Rona Benson
ARTIE
Leslie Hicks
DOROTHEA
Betty Vaughan

Stage Manager Sound/Lights
Bill Hengstenberg

 
project # 2:
THE BALD SOPRANO
by Eugene Ionesco
Translation by Donald M. Allen
sponsored by Amanda Carlin
Directed by Fred Sanders
Friday, June 18 at 8:00 pm & Sunday, June 20 at 1:00 pm

THE CAST:
MRS. SMITH
Amanda Carlin
MR. SMITH
James McDonnell
MARY
Christina Carlisi
MR. MARTIN
Steven Culp
MRS. MARTIN
Leslie Hicks
FIRE CHIEF
Steve Hofvendahl
   
Sound Design
Thomas Needell
Music
Erik Satie:
"Heures séculaires et instantanées" ("Obstacles vénimeux")
Stage Manager
Sandee Terzis

 
project # 3:
DOWN THE ROAD
by Lee Blessing
sponsored by Robert Zeigler
Directed by Leon Russom
Saturday, June 19 at 1:00 pm & Sunday, June 20 at 8:00 pm

THE CAST:
IRIS HENNIMAN
Rachel Griffin
DAN HENNIMAN
James Calvert
WILLIAM REACH
Robert Zeigler
TV & RADIO VOICES
Dave Florek, Gregory White,
Chris Ellis, Carol Mayo Jenkins,
Leon Russom

 
Stage Manager
Bill Hengstenberg

 
project # 4:
THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT

by Jean Giraudoux
Directed by Lamont Johnson
Saturday, June 19 at 8:00 pm & Sunday, June 20 at 4:30 pm
THE CAST:
THE WAITER
Steven Hack
THE MADAME
Eve Brenner
THÉRÈSE
Nancy Anne Ridder
THE PRESIDENT
François Giroday
THE BARON
Gregory White
THE "LITTLE MAN
Matt Sullivan
THE RAGPICKER
Sandy Kenyon
THE PROSPECTOR
Peter Zapp
THE FLOWER GIRL
Liz Arnold
THE DEAF-MUTE
Larry Bazzell
THE BROKER
Bob Larkin
THE STREET SINGER
Richard Gunn
IRMA
JulieAnna Laffer
COUNTESS AURÉLIA, THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT
Carol Mayo Jenkins
THE POLICEMAN
Jeffrey Stubblefield
PIERRE
Matt Sullivan
THE SEWER MAN
Peter Zapp
MME. CONSTANCE, THE MADWOMAN OF PASSY
Eve Brenner
MLLE. GABRIELLE, THE MADWOMAN OF ST. SULPICE
Marilyn McIntyre
MME. JOSÉPHINE, THE MADWOMAN OF LA CONCORDE
Betty Vaughan
2ND PRESIDENT
Gregory White
2ND BROKER
Jeffrey Stubblefield
2ND PROSPECTOR
Steven Hack
THE ADOLPH BERTAUT
François Giroday, Gregory White

Music & Sound
Paul Cuneo
Costumes
Eve Brenner
Music & Sound
Paul Cuneo
Stage Manager
Darline Sacquety

 
project # 5:
HOW I GOT THAT STORY
by Amlin Gray

Thursday, June 24 at 1:00 pm & Sunday, June 27 at 7:00 pm


project # 6:
EARLY ONE EVENING
AT THE RAINBOW BAR & GRILLE
by Bruce Graham
Directed by Dave Florek

Friday, June 25 at 8:00 pm & Saturday, June 26 at 3:00 pm

THE CAST:
SHEP
David Drew Gallagher
ROY
Robert Zeigler
WILLY
Don Fischer
BULLARD
Gregory White
SHIRLEY
Mary Jo Mecca
VIRGINIA
Megan Zakar
JOE
Dave Florek

Stage Manager
Bill Hengstenberg

 
project # 7:
ITALIAN AMERICAN RECONCILIATION
by John Patrick Shanley
Directed by Joel Anderson
Saturday, June 26 at 8:00 pm & Sunday, June 27 at 3:00 pm
THE CAST:
ALDO SCALICKI
Josh Adell
HUEY MAXAMILIAN BONFIGLIANO
Keith Gordon
TERESA
Megan Zakar
AUNT MAY
Sharon Madden
JANICE
Rachel Griffin
   
Stage Manager
Bill Hengstenberg

 
project # 8:
(cancelled)

 
project # 9:
THE NORMAL HEART
by Larry Kramer
sponsored and Directed by Steven Hack

Friday, July 9 at 8:00 pm & Saturday, July 10 at 3:00 pm

THE CAST:
CRAIG DONNER
Robert Zeigler
MICKEY MARCUS
James Calvert
NED WEEKS
Steven Hack
DAVID
Rob Brownstein
DR. EMMA BROOKNER
Marilyn McIntyre
BRUCE NILES
Matthew Ashford
FELIX TURNER
Matt Sullivan
BEN WEEKS
Peter Zapp
TOMMY BOATWRIGHT
David Drew Gallagher
HIRAM KEEBLER
Rob Brownstein
GRADY
Robert Zeigler
EXAMINING DOCTOR
Rob Brownstein
Stage Directions Read by
Liz Arnold
   
Stage Manager
Bill Hengstenberg

 
project # 10:
BROADWAY BOUND
by Neil Simon
sponsored by Annie Abbott
Directed by Anita Khanzadian

Saturday, July 10 at 8:00 pm & Sunday, July 11 at 3:00 pm

THE CAST:
KATE
Robert Zeigler
BEN
James Calvert
EUGENE
Steven Hack
STAN
Rob Brownstein
BLANCHE
Marilyn McIntyre
JACK
Matthew Ashford
Radio Voices:
ANNOUNCER
Matt Sullivan
CHUBBY WATERS
Peter Zapp
MRS. PITKIN
David Drew Gallagher

 
Sound Design
Thomas Needell
Assistant Stage Manager
Tiffany Owens
Stage Manager
Bill Hengstenberg

 
project # 11:
SOUND BITE
by Debeorah Pearl

 
project # 12:
JENNY
by Marjie Rynearson
sponsored by Nancy Boykin
Directed by Dan Kern

Friday, July 16 at 8:00 pm & Saturday, July 17 at 3:00 pm
THE CAST: 
JENNY, a sculptor
Misty Reams-Kiley
DOROTHY, Jenny's mother
Marilyn McIntyre
BEN, Jenny's father
Leon Russom
PSYCHIATRIST
Carol Mayo Jenkins
SUSAN
Nancy Boykin
MARTHA, Susan's sister
Sharon Madden
HERMAN, Susan's son
Robert Zeigler
   
Assistant to the Director
Darline Sacquety
Stage Manager
Bill Hengstenberg

 
project # 13:
CHILDREN OF SHAME
by W. Colin McKay
sponsored and Directed by Louis Turenne
Saturday, July 17 at 8:00 pm & Sunday, July 18 at 3:00 pm

THE CAST:
MOLLY HINSON
Mary Jo Mecca
EILEEN HAGEN
Carol Mayo Jenkins
FRANK ROBERTSON
Don Fischer
MARY WILSON
Nancy Anne Ridder
SANDRA DENNIS
Betty Vaughan
 
Sound Design
Steve Hull
Stage Manager
Bill Hengstenberg
   
Other Project Sponsors:
Josh Adell, Alan Brooks, Amanda Carlin, Anita Khanzadian (Play Development Lab), Betty Vaughan, Gregory White, Robert Zeigler
   

FOR INTERACTIVITY:

Original Scenic Design
Peter Zapp
Scenic Artist
John Patrick
Lighting Design
J. Kent Inasy
Associate Producers
Joel Anderson and James Harper
Box Office Manager
Harryette Feistman
Production Stage Managers:
Bill Hengstenberg, Darline Sacquety, Sandy Terzis

Festival Produced by Megan Zakar


 
 
MANÈGE MOLIÈRE
Three One-Act Plays
by Molière


Directed by Louis Turenne


October 1 - November 21, 1999
25 Performances

 

THE FLYING DOCTOR

translation by Louis Turenne

THE CAST:
VALÈRE
Josh Adell
LUCILE
Susan Hull
SGANARELLE
Lance Davis
GORGIBUS
Gregory White
GRÔS RENÉ
Leon Russom
SABINE
Megan Zakar
A LAWYER
James Gleason

 
THE JEALOUS HUSBAND
translation by Louis Turenne

THE CAST:
BARBOUILLE
Doug Ballard
A DOCTOR
James Gleason
ANGÉLIQUE
Mary Jo Mecca
VALÈRE
Michael Manuel
CATHAU
Megan Zakar
GORGIBUS
Gregory White
WIMBLE
Lance Davis
LA VALÉE
Josh Adell

 
SGANARELLE
translation by Richard Wilbur

THE CAST:
CÉLIE
Megan Zakar
GORGIBUS
Gregory White
LISETTE
Susan Hull
SGANARELLE
Leon Russom
MARTINE
Mary Jo Mecca
LÉLIE
Michael Manuel
GRÔS RENÉ
James Gleason
DORANTE
Josh Adell
WIMBLE
Lance Davis

"Alouette"
sung by the Company
"Plaisir d'Amour"
sung by Mary Jo Mecca
"Row Your Boat"
sung by the Company
"Black Is the Color"
sung by David Mauer
"Psyche"
sung by Susan Hull
"Frère Jacques"
sung by the Company
"Sur le Pont"
sung by the Company

Set Design
Sean Nagle
Lighting Design
J. Kent Inasy
Costume Design
Barbara Ayers
Musical Direction
Michael Weiner
Choreography
Jane Lanier
Guitarist
David Mauer
Press Representation
ECCO! Diana & Bernadette Hale
Associate Producer
Carol Mayo Jenkins
Box Office Managers
Harryette Feistman, Rona Benson
Production Stage Manager
Bill Hengstenberg


Produced by Leon Russom


NOMINATION:
Backstage West "Garland" Award - Production - LEON RUSSOM 


 
THE MUSIC MAN
Book, Music, & Lyrics by Meredith Willson
 

(a Special Benefit performance of a staged reading)

 
Co-Directed by John Rubinstein
Co-Directed & Choreographed by Jane Lanier

December 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 1999
8 Performances

THE CAST:

TRAVELING SALESMEN
James Calvert, Lance Davis, Dave Florek, Steven Hack, James McDonnell, Fred Sanders, Michael Weiner
CHARLIE COWELL
Gregory White / James McDonnell
CONDUCTOR
Sandy Kenyon
HAROLD HILL
John Rubinstein
MAYOR SHINN
James Harper
EWART DUNLOP (2nd tenor)
Robert Zeigler
OLIVER HIX (baritone)
Matthew Ashford
JACEY SQUIRES (1st tenor)
Mary Jo Mecca
OLIN BRITT (bass)
Doug Ballard
MARCELLUS WASHBURN
James Gleason
TOMMY DJILAS
Steven Hack
MARIAN PAROO
Leslie Hicks / Susan Hull
MRS. PAROO
Betty Vaughan
AMARYLLIS
Grace Ashford
WINTHROP PAROO
Walker Dornisch
EULALIE MACKECKNIE SHINN
Carol Mayo Jenkins / Nancy Boykin
ZANEETA SHINN
Amy Schadt
GRACIE SHINN
Jessica Rubinstein
ALMA HIX
Amanda Carlin / Sione Owen
MAUD DUNLOP
Annie Abbott
ETHEL TOFFELMIER
Sharon Madden
MRS. SQUIRES
Nancy Boykin / Sione Owen
CONSTABLE LOCKE
Dave Florek / Sandy Kenyon
TOWNSPEOPLE (Women)
Eve Brenner, Annie Heller, Sione Owen,
Jessica Rubinstein, Lia Sargent, Amy Schadt
TOWNSPEOPLE (Men)
James Calvert, Lance Davis, Dave Florek
David Drew Gallagher, Sandy Kenyon, Kevin Lee,
James McDonnell, Fred Sanders, Michael Weiner
BOYS
James Calvert, David Drew Gallagher, Steven Hack, James Kern, Kevin Lee, Michael Weiner
GIRL
Rosanna Dominguez
 
Set Design
Bradley Kaye
Lighting Design
J. Kent Inasy
Costumes
Eve Brenner
Musical Director & Pianist
Steve Orich
Pianist/Synthesizer
Alan Zachary
Stage Manager
Teresa Durant

Produced by Leslie Hicks